Speaker
Description
Geothermal energy represents a clean, renewable, and sustainable source of power that relies on heat stored at depth within the earth. The safe and efficient exploitation of geothermal resources requires a detailed understanding of subsurface fluid flow, pressure evolution, and the associated mechanical response of the reservoir and surrounding geological structures.
This study focuses on the Geoven geothermal project, a deep geothermal system located north of Strasbourg, France, which exploits heat from the Robertsau fault zone. However, operations were suspended by regulatory authorities following a sequence of induced seismic events that occurred during well activities, highlighting the need for improved understanding of the coupled processes governing pressure evolution, deformation, and seismic response within the reservoir.
The objective of this work is to develop a robust numerical model capable of capturing the dynamic response of the Geoven geothermal reservoir during injection and pumping operations. The modeling approach integrates pressure and flow-rate time-series data collected during operation into a coupled numerical framework that accounts for fluid flow, reservoir deformation, and injection-induced variations in hydro-mechanical properties. The model is designed to describe how pressure perturbations propagate through the reservoir and how geological factors, such as spatial variations in rock permeability and fault-related processes, influence system behavior.
The modeling strategy begins with a simplified representation assuming homogeneous reservoir properties, which successfully reproduces a large portion of the observed pressure response. The framework is then progressively refined by incorporating spatial heterogeneity in hydraulic properties away from the wells, reflecting more realistic subsurface conditions. In addition, the model considers the influence of seismic and post-seismic processes, represented through additional pressure contributions that affect transient pressure evolution within the system.
The results demonstrate that even a relatively simple numerical model can reliably reproduce observed pressure behavior during injection. The analysis further indicates that accounting for pressure sources associated with seismic and post-seismic effects is essential for accurately matching the measured pressure signals. These processes play a significant role in controlling the short and long term pressure response of the geothermal reservoir.
Overall, this work enhances the understanding of coupled hydro-mechanical processes in fault-controlled geothermal systems and contributes to the development of more reliable geothermal reservoir models. The findings support improved reservoir characterization, risk assessment, and operational planning, thereby facilitating the safe and sustainable deployment of geothermal energy resources.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Green Housing & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Green Housing |
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